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They went the same way as real chrome, 2 and 3 tone paint schemes, vinyl tops and color coordinated interiors.
IT'S CHEAPER TO BUILD.
Today's cars look much the same from a distance. They have no manufacturer distinction. Pretty much the interiors are down to the same basic colors as is the outside. There is no distinction or individual personality. They are cookie cutter cars with many parts subcontracted out to the same company that makes steering wheels, dashes, etc.
But as long as todays high tech society gets their play doodles to fool with they are happy to pay very big prices for the newest gadgets to distract them while driving. Who cares how dull and drab the vehicle is in comparison to how good and different cars use to look.

I highly doubt that todays 18, 19, and 20 inch factory wheels are cheaper to build than yesteryears tiny 13, 14 and 15 inchers. Cars are better in terms of build quality today than they have ever been. They look a ton better as well! Material quality (including plastics) and panel gaps have improved drastically.

I don't subscribe to the old fogey mentality. Cars today are generally better than they were in the past and the cars that will come down the pipeline in the coming decades will be better than what we have now (if long term trends are anything to go by).

I highly doubt that todays 18, 19, and 20 inch factory wheels are cheaper to build than yesteryears tiny 13, 14 and 15 inchers. Cars are better in terms of build quality today than they have ever been. They look a ton better as well! Material quality (including plastics) and panel gaps have improved drastically.

I don't subscribe to the old fogey mentality. Cars today are generally better than they were in the past and the cars that will come down the pipeline in the coming decades will be better than what we have now (if long term trends are anything to go by).

I agree. They are incredibly safer, too. Corvairs and Pintos were rolling death traps.

I have never had WWs on any car I've ever owned, but then, again, my idea of a beautiful vehicle is a Subaru Forester rolling over the snowbank left by the snowplow at the bottom of my driveway or a Ford F-150 hauling a horse trailer.

Folks are lazy. I used to clean my Dads white wall tires on his Caddie every week till they sparkled. Plenty of holes in pants etc from chemicals. Todays kids are too lazy to do any chores and parents under 50 are just as bad.

I highly doubt that todays 18, 19, and 20 inch factory wheels are cheaper to build than yesteryears tiny 13, 14 and 15 inchers. Cars are better in terms of build quality today than they have ever been. They look a ton better as well! Material quality (including plastics) and panel gaps have improved drastically.

I don't subscribe to the old fogey mentality. Cars today are generally better than they were in the past and the cars that will come down the pipeline in the coming decades will be better than what we have now (if long term trends are anything to go by).

Well, tastes do vary but when a Buick looks like a Toyota, I don't see how the cars of today look "better" than the classic cars. For me, it's definitely the opposite. I find the vast majority of modern cars to be ugly, with the "blob" and "egg-shaped" and "plastic-bubble" look, while many or most of the '60s cars had their own unique styling. For example, compare the '68/'69 Dodge Charger with the new version. Or a '69 Dart GTS 340 with the new "Dart." Many well-styled cars back then, Buick Riviera, any Cadillac!, Pontiac GTO, Camaro, Firebird, Mustang, Olds 4-4-2, Pontiac Grand Prix, etc.

I also prefer the large amount of metal and chrome in the old/older cars. They can't make them like that anymore... too expensive and would make the cars too heavy.

I am curious to see how the new cars will hold up in 20, 30 and 40 years.

I am curious to see how the new cars will hold up in 20, 30 and 40 years.

They wont be around to see... just like microwaves, refrigerators, and washing machines, things are no longer built to last for years.

Ive got whitewalls on my car (older Buick), theyre about 1" thick and Goodyear is always trying to put the white to the inside or sell me blackwalls. As long as you keep them clean, some cars do look better with the whitewalls...and well, many classic cars just wouldnt look the same without the wide whitewalls.

I have no like for wheels larger than 15". My truck came standard with them as did most before manufacturers started with the bigger ones. Tires cost more as a result. Consumers don't realize that when they are standing agog looking at their dream vehicle through misty eyes. They just want to sign on the dotted line and drive out. Tires won't be a concern until the stock ones fade and they freak out over $200 tires.

Fashion comes and goes as with everything. What color were refrigerators in the 50s-60s? 70s-80s? Stainless seems to be vogue now but that will change again.

Why are there roughly 5 exterior colors for cars these days. My least favorite is Road Surface Gray. It blends with the road and you can miss them in traffic, especially at dusk or in the rain.

Vinyl roofs were the pits in car design IMO. That guy should have driven a vinyl car.

Much too long. I stopped reading after your first paragraph , so I have no idea what you said.

I know what you're saying about the wall of text--not everybody is a stylish writer--but this poster, coming from an auto dealing family, offers a wealth of insight, and oftentimes hilarious opinions. Give her a try some time, and don't forget that if you have nothing nice to say, it's sometimes better to say nothing.

They went the same way as real chrome, 2 and 3 tone paint schemes, vinyl tops and color coordinated interiors.
IT'S CHEAPER TO BUILD.
Today's cars look much the same from a distance. They have no manufacturer distinction. Pretty much the interiors are down to the same basic colors as is the outside. There is no distinction or individual personality. They are cookie cutter cars with many parts subcontracted out to the same company that makes steering wheels, dashes, etc.
But as long as todays high tech society gets their play doodles to fool with they are happy to pay very big prices for the newest gadgets to distract them while driving. Who cares how dull and drab the vehicle is in comparison to how good and different cars use to look.

Clearly you don't know much about modern cars, nor do you pay much attention to them. The difference between a Toyota, a Kia, and a Ford is huge.

Quote:

Originally Posted by iTsLiKeAnEgG

[color=black][font=Verdana]I highly doubt that todays 18, 19, and 20 inch factory wheels are cheaper to build than yesteryears tiny 13, 14 and 15 inchers. Cars are better in terms of build quality today than they have ever been. They look a ton better as well! Material quality (including plastics) and panel gaps have improved drastically.

The entire reason for whitewalls was to save money, originally. Rubber used to be white, as some have pointed out, because of the zinc oxide added to increase traction. At the time, tires didn't last long, and someone came up with the idea of adding carbon black to add longevity, but to save money, they only added it in the tread area where the wear actually happens.

Eventually tire construction and processes changed and carbon black got cheaper. And people realized whitewalls were a pain and larger rims were a much better decorative statement, while also leaving room for larger brakes.

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